Zanthan GardensGarden Essays: Pretty in Pink

March 7th, 2009Pretty in Pink

Delicate pink bluebonnet–a natural variation.

Last October I posted about how certain lurid fall pinks made my skin crawl. Those pinks were so intense, so clashing, and completely out of season. In my mind Autumn belongs to the brilliant yellow, orange, and red spectrum.

You might have concluded that I’m the kind of girl who shies away from pink. Although I do gravitate towards black, whites, and grays, I can embrace pink if it’s icy pale and delicate and in its season: Spring.

And this year, after a 10-year hiatus, I made another attempt to grow ‘Angelique’ tulips. They are struggling in our run of 80-degree days but one flower has opened and I think they’re worth the effort.

by M Sinclair Stevens

8 Responses to post “Pretty in Pink”

I love all shades of pink in the garden. That rose is very pretty. I grew ‘Anglique’ tulips several years ago, and to my surprise they showed up last year and surprised me! I guess the bulbs finally gathered enough energy to bloom again….they are so lovely.

Those pinks are pretty. I have never seen the natural pink bluebonnet before. Did it just show up or is it a mix of the Aggie one? Save the seeds-they are worth keeping to see what happens next year. Once I saw a white one in a field of blue- I imagine that it was an albino. Your roses are beautiful-so French and the tulip also. Is this a species tulip?

The pink bluebonnet just showed up. I’ve never bought plants or seeds of the Aggie maroon bluebonnets. I’ve had the occasional pink and white bluebonnets before. In fact, I discovered a white one today. I try to save seeds but my experience is that sometimes these “off” plants don’t set seed as well. Of course, I’ll try again this year. The ‘Angelique’ tulip is not a species tulip. It’s a double that is supposed to do well in the south. I had to chill the bulbs before planting them in a pot. — mss

Those angeliques are definitely one of my favorite pink flowers. I haven’t grown them in a while. I wouldn’t think they’d repeat well in any garden; the hybrids generally don’t, but that has never bothered me.

I would also never tire of photographing ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison,’ it is everything a Rose should be. I understand your frustration with the ‘Angelique’ Tulips. My mom grows them, but I gave up on all late season tulips because they always seem to get cooked within a day of opening.

Ah, pale pink, something we southern gardeners can never really do. Even in the early spring the sun is so intense, the color just fades away…and don’t even think about it in the heat of the summer. They need to scream pink! Beautiful shots!

It’s a damn sight hotter in Austin then Charleston and I love the icy coolness of pale pinks. They seem to be the perfect color for early spring. You’re right, though, pale pinks don’t take the heat–except for the rose ‘Blush Noisette’. Perhaps perversely, I don’t like wimpy washed-out lavenders. I can’t stand hot pinks at all. As the Japanese say, 10 people 10 colors (that is, to each his own). Variety is what makes the world interesting. — mss